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Xbox workers threaten mass suicide: report

Workers are seen inside a Foxconn factory in the township of Longhua in the southern Guangdong province.

Approximately 300 Foxconn employees who work on the Xbox 360 manufacturing line in Wuhan, China, threatened to jump from the building's roof following a rescinded pay deal earlier this month, according to reports.

WantChina Timessaid that according to the Chinese anti-government website China Jasmine Revolution, the employees had sought a pay rise but were denied by Foxconn management.

The company then reportedly offered staff a choice between continuing to work at current rates or taking a compensated dismissal package. Many workers chose the latter, but Foxconn reneged on the package.

In protest, the workers climbed to the roof and threatened to jump, but were apparently talked down from the ledge by Wuhan's mayor.

Foxconn Technology Group, the world's biggest contract manufacturer of electronics, said in an emailed statement today to Bloomberg that 150 workers at the plant in Wuhan had protested on January 4 about a plan to transfer them to another unit.

The company said the issue was resolved the same day after talks with executives and local government officials.

''After talking with workers and management, it is our understanding that the worker protest was related to staffing assignments and transfer policies, not working conditions,'' Microsoft said in its statement.

The majority of the protesters at Foxconn chose to return to work, Microsoft said.

Foxconn said 45 of the 150 workers resigned, according to its statement.

Microsoft's Phil Spencer said that Foxconn had "been an important partner" of Microsoft's. "I trust them as a responsible company to continue to evolve their process and work relationships.

"That is something we remain committed to - the safe and ethical treatment of people who build our products. That's a core value of our company."

WantChina Times reported that 14 Foxconn employees committed suicide in 2010. Employees frequently complained of long working hours and discrimination.

Microsoft issued a general statement saying it took the working conditions in factories that manufacture its products "very seriously".

"We have a stringent Vendor Code of Conduct that spells out our expectations, and we monitor working conditions closely on an ongoing basis and address issues as they emerge. Microsoft is committed to the fair treatment and safety of workers employed by our vendors, and to ensuring conformance with Microsoft policy."